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What is the planning process? We have a opportunity to incorporate it as a study for the exams up here, and a day out for a member of staff taking student s up hills... 8)
I was wondering how and for how long the measuring process takes. What other factors are involved in choosing a site, and what is the deciding factor, say terrain/location over wind speed.
Bearing in mind some of the obscure threads on here, I felt this was the first port of call. Email in profile if you prefer.
Not personally involved, but you'll find some interesting documents on the Planning Application page of [url= http://www.scoutmoorwindfarm.co.uk/ ]Scout Moor Wind Farm[/url].
I'm preparing my part of an ES chapter for a wind farm app right this minute! I'm only involved in one part of the process and not the selection of sites but providing support to the developer once the site has been chosen but would happily talk you through it if you like. Mail in profile.
Planning process is same as for other large schemes that normally require formal EIA. Programme for that depends on what studies are needed - usually determined by extent of ecological survey which are seasonally constrained. Other key issues are landscape and visual and noise/flicker and transport during construction phase. Typical programme would be 12 months EIA followed by 4 months to determine planning. With a fair, er, wind.
Site selection driven as a starter by wind speeds/days per year which defines areas in the UK suitable. These are then sieved against a variety of constraints which include nature
conservation designations, national park/AONB, line of sight telecoms, military radar etc. Other factors include accessibility for delivery of long loads by roads. Some sites get ruled out because there would be too much impact from hedge removal on narrow roads, junctions, bends etc.
Would be a great exam module - lots of interesting studies and constraints, community angles, consultation and presentation of proposals, local economic impact/benefits, national policy etc. Trouble is, due to the latter, onshore (and offshore) new wind generation in the UK is a bit knackered at present so less topical than would have been 3 or 4 years ago.
we've had a few wind turbines built on our site, it seemed (logical when you think about it) that an early part of the process was to put up a wind-speed/direction recording device on a *really* tall pole for a few weeks/months.
Actually the starting point is not wind yield at all but what you're going to do with the power. You could have the most efficient turbine in the World in a high wind yield spot but it would be useless unless you knew that you could plug the thing in to the transmission or distribution network or otherwise a private wire/onsite network.
The company running the wind farm you are visiting should be able to give you a good spiel about it all. You could even get some nimbys in to complain how it's making them ill and it should be somewhere else
Agreed that grid connection is important but not the only starting point. Mid Wales connector as an example.
Planning process just changed last week with the planning and housing act. Not entirely sure of the details but I think they've moved them all out of nsips and back to lpa decision. Wales And Scotland are different.
I may have some previous on sorting the electricity network connection out.
Basically you can have one anywhere (roughly speaking if you're competent to have the connection you're legally entitled to have one) but it can be expensive and take some time to build. Also it's not always at your preferred voltage.
I have not been involed in planning, but have been involed in the tender and construction process. As well as wind speed and connection, other aspects need to be considered to determine the viability. Terrain on site to allow large unwieldy vehicles to access. Water management,enabling works required. Eg large scale tree felling, offsite road upgrades and traffic management. Sometimes harbour upgrades to allow import of materials. The chosen turbine manufacturer can make a difference to the outcome. They all have different crane hardstand specifications and geometry to allow turbine erection. Site geology often affects turbine location. Often turbines are microsited away from areas of deep peat for example. Is there rock available on site for road construction and ballast backfill. The viabilty of a site may hinge on the materials available on site or proximity to concret plant. Hope somw of this helps.
Thanks folks, main points noted and I will be in touch Mr Beard.
Frodsham wind farm next to M56 cheshire west, nimbys, complained about visual intrusion, despite a major chemical plants being nearby, inneos chlor, shell stanlow, growmore, a fertilizer plant,a glass bottle manufacturing plant a major motorway, an airport over the river, and the manchester ship canal.
Yet a few wind turbines and they complain, despite getting money to do up their area, new roads and tracks to empty their dogs on and shoot at birds.
Oh and its windy there, and no houses locally nearest ones about a few miles away.